The Cornersville Lady Bulldogs traveled to Maury County to face the Mt. Pleasant Lady Tigers Friday night in the second of two early season matchup of old foes.

Alicia Polk poured in 23 points and the Lady Bulldogs came away with a sweep of the two-game series as Cornersville (2-4) took home a 57-50 victory.

“I was nervous tonight being shorthanded, but we hustled and even when Fitzgerald fouled out, she was hustling to make plays,” Cornersville coach Martha Jane McMasters said. “Woodard had her best game and Polk played well. We never quit and I’m proud of the girls.”

In a near carbon copy of the first game, the score was close, but senior Payton Salsman canned 6-of-6 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

Cornersville controlled the tip and Camille Finch, playing in place of Lady Bulldog Merrihannah Walker who has an ankle injury, came out firing as she sank a 3-pointer to open the scoring.

After a Mt. Pleasant turnover, Polk connected on a 15-foot jumper and the Lady Bulldogs were up 5-0.

Kielee Bradley, who matched Polk with 23 points for the night, sank the first of her five 3-pointers to cut the lead to 5-3.

Bethany Fitzgerald, fouled on her first shot attempt sank one of two free throws, then after a Mt. Pleasant miss on the next trip down court, Fitzgerald dropped in a short bank shot to put Cornersville up 8-3.

Cornersville’s Abbie Woodard, off a great feed by Polk, then scored on a layup.

Polk, again attacking the basket, scored another basket and Mt. Pleasant called a timeout at the 3:57 mark of the quarter with Cornersville in front 12-3.

After a rebound by Woodard, who grabbed 14 boards on the night, Polk banked in a two pointer and Cornersville’s lead was 14-3.

Polk and Fitzgerald added baskets before Bradley drilled a basket for her seventh point of the quarter that ended with Cornersville holding a big 18-7 lead.

Polk kept up her attack, but Mt. Pleasant came charging back as Bradley contined her torrid shooting, nailing two more 3-pointers to make the score 20-13.

Bailee Gray got in on the scoring with a jumper and Bradley hit another 3-pointer to make it 20-18.

Fitzgerald and Woodard fought for inside baskets and after a Lady Tigers’ miss, Woodard was fouled on a drive and made both free throws to push the Cornersville lead to eight points at 26-18.

“We knew we had to come out and keep up with this team and we felt like we had to take it to them and I felt like we did tonight,” Woodard said.

Gray canned a basket and then scored off a steal to cut the Lady Bulldogs’ lead to 26-22.

Woodard was fouled again on a drive and made one-of-two and Cornersville led at halftime 27-22.

The third quarter saw Cornersville push the lead to eight points as Polk canned a three, but Bradley answered immediately with her fourth 3-pointer to make the score 28-25.

Gray scored before Woodard converted free throws on back-to-back possessions to give Cornersville a 32-27 lead.

Mt. Pleasant and Cornersville kept up the scoring pace and when the third quarter horn sounded Cornersville was up by six 42-36.

Mt. Pleasant began to press on defense and the Lady Bulldogs took advantage at the free throw line as Fitzgerald made one free throw, Salsman swished the net for four, and Woodard added two more for Cornersville.

Gray dropped in two baskets and Bradley hit another three to close within six points at 49-43 before Polk was fouled and made both free throws to extend the lead to 51-43.

Emily Grossman fired in a 3-pointer and Gray canned a basket and after a Lady Bulldog miss, Bradley hit on a jumper and the lead for Cornersville was down to one point at 51-50 with 1:23 left in the game.

After a turnover by the Lady Tigers, Grayson Riner nailed a corner basket and the lead was up to three.

English was whistled for her fifth foul that sent her to the bench and sent Salsman back to the free throw line where she calmly sank both to make the score 55-50.

Polk then stole the ball, scored on a layup and was fouled.

Although Polk would miss the free throw, Woodard got the rebound and Cornersville ran out the clock for the 57-50 victory.

“We played hard and played together,” the freshman Polk said. “We were ready.”

Cornersville 18 9 15 15-57

Mt. Pleasant 7 15 14 14-50

Cornersville (57): Alicia Polk 23, Abbie Woodard 15, Bethany Fitzgerald 6, Payton Salsman 6, Grayson Riner 4, Camille Finch 3.

Three-point goals (2): Polk, Finch.

Free Throws (19-for-30): Salsman 6-for-6, Woodard 9-for-14, Polk 2-for-5, Fitzgerald 2-for-5.

Mt. Pleasant (50): Kielee Bradley 23, Baleigh Gray 16, Emily Crossman 8, Gracie English 3.

Three-point goals (7): Bradley 5, Crossman 2.

Free Throws (2-for-3): English 1-for-2, Crossman 0-for-1.

Halftime Score: Cornersville 27, Mt. Pleasant 22.